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单词 quit
释义

quitn.1

Brit. /kwɪt/, U.S. /kwɪt/, Caribbean English /kwɪt/
Origin: Of uncertain origin.
Etymology: Origin uncertain.It has been suggested that the word is imitative of the birds' call (see quot. 18941), but this seems unlikely, as the call of the birds (all of which are relatively similar in size and appearance) is more reminiscent of /ziː/ or /siːsiː/, and Caribbean bird names of imitative origin tend to be formally similar to the calls uttered by the birds. Perhaps compare Haitian Creole petit-chit , petite-chitte , denoting various kinds of warbler. Perhaps compare also Central American Spanish (Dominican Republic) siguita (1960 in J. Bond, or earlier), although a connection is unlikely on phonological grounds. P. H. Gosse suggests (see quot. 1847) that the word is borrowed < an African language, but no specific etymon has been identified. No possible etymon has been found in the indigenous languages of the Caribbean.
Caribbean.
Any of various Jamaican tanagers, buntings, and related songbirds. Frequently with distinguishing word.banana, grass-, orangequit: see the first element.
ΚΠ
1847 P. H. Gosse & R. Hill Birds of Jamaica 254 The name of Quit is applied without much discrimination by the negroes of Jamaica, to several small birds, such as the Banana Quit, which is a Creeper, and the Blue Quit, and Grass Quits which are finches; it is probably an African designation.
1894 A. Newton et al. Dict. Birds: Pt. III 761 Quit, a name applied in Jamaica..to several very different kinds of birds, probably from the notes they utter.
1894 A. Newton Dict. Birds 761 The Banana Quit is the Sugar-bird.
1909 Geogr. Jrnl. 33 651 In and out of the corollas of these golden flowers dart woodpeckers.., starlings.., metallic humming-birds, innumerable small quits of variegated tints.
1949 J. E. C. McFarlane Treasury Jamaican Poetry ii. 52 Blithe chirps a tiny quit, nesting.
1958 Van Nostrand's Sci. Encycl. (ed. 3) 819/2 Honey creeper... One species is called the banana-quit.
1974 Biotropica 6 117 The quits (Coereba spp.) compete with the hummingbirds for Piscidia piscipula and the two tree species of Cordia.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

quitn.2

Brit. /kwɪt/, U.S. /kwɪt/
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: quit v.
Etymology: < quit v. With sense 2 compare earlier quitting n.
†1. Astronomy. The point on the celestial sphere away from which a celestial object appears at any moment to be moving. Obsolete. rare.Apparently only in the writing of H. A. Newton.
ΚΠ
1891 H. A. Newton in Amer. Jrnl. Sci. 42 92 The goal and the quit of a moving body are those two points on the celestial sphere towards which and from which the body is moving.
1892 H. A. Newton in Astronomy & Astrophysics Jan. 15 Of the 839 comets..267..will have quits less than 45° from Jupiter's quit, while 38 of them will have quits less than 45° from Jupiter's goal.
2. U.S. The action or an instance of quitting, spec. of leaving a job or of departing a place. Also: a person who quits.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > [noun] > quitting (act of or one who)
quit1918
1918 Monthly Rev. U.S. Bureau Labor Stat. June 172 Separations include all quits, discharges, and lay offs for any reason whatsoever.
1951 N. Cassady Let. 28 Nov. (2005) 309 Our crew was rushing for an early Sat. quit and if we didn't get out of Palo Alto before, say, 11, we would get stuck in the hole there until afternoon.
1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 6 July 8- a/4 The scope of the ‘voluntary quits’, persons who leave their jobs for any reason is not precisely tabulated.
2002 New Yorker 18 Nov. 59/1 We've got an early quit.

Compounds

C1.
quit-form n.
ΚΠ
1966 ‘A. Hall’ 9th Directive xxii. 209 The hospital superintendent..didn't want to release me..but I forced a personal responsibility quit-form out of him and signed it and left.
quit notice n.
ΚΠ
1863 O. J. Victor Hist. Amer. Conspiracies v. 157 Receiving this quit-notice Governor Martin immediately convened his Council.
1976 K. Thackeray Crownbird vi. 111 If..he got a quit notice from the Kenyans, he'd wind up being stateless.
2000 Africa News (Nexis) 3 July Already, some of the local councils have given quit notices to prostitutes to vacate their areas.
C2.
quit rate n. U.S. the proportion of people in a particular industry, area, etc., who voluntarily leave their jobs over a certain period of time.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > lack of work > [noun] > action or fact of vacating office > resigning or laying down office > proportion who leave work
labour turnover1915
quit rate1926
turn-over1955
churn1977
1926 Rev. Econ. & Statist. 8 136/2 Keen interest is therefore being shown by employers in the course of voluntary quit rates.
1970 Women Speaking Apr. 10/2 For both men and women workers, the lowest quit rates occur among skilled workers and professional and managerial workers.
2006 Tulsa (Okla.) World (Nexis) 30 July e1 Job satisfaction is measured by several tangible and intangible factors in the civilian economy, but quit rates or turnover rates are the bottom line.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

quitadj.

Brit. /kwɪt/, U.S. /kwɪt/
Forms:

α. early Middle English cwite, Middle English queyt, Middle English quiȝt, Middle English quijt, Middle English quyȝte, Middle English qwyte, Middle English white, Middle English whyte, Middle English–1500s quyte, Middle English–1600s 1800s quite, 1500s quyght, 1500s wheitt (northern), 1500s–1600s quight; Scottish pre-1700 queyte, pre-1700 quhyte, pre-1700 quyte, pre-1700 qwite, pre-1700 qwyte, pre-1700 1700s–1800s quite.

β. early Middle English cwit, Middle English qwit, Middle English qwyt, Middle English–1500s quyt, Middle English– quit, 1500s whyt (northern); also Scottish pre-1700 quet, pre-1700 quhit, pre-1700 quhyt, pre-1700 quyt, pre-1700 qvit, pre-1700 qwet, pre-1700 qwhit, pre-1700 qwhyt, pre-1700 qwit, pre-1700 qwyt, pre-1700 1700s– quat, pre-1700 1700s– quit.

γ. Middle English kuytte (south-eastern), Middle English qwhitte, Middle English qwitt, Middle English qwytt, Middle English–1500s quytte, Middle English–1500s qwitte, Middle English–1600s quitt, Middle English–1600s quitte, Middle English–1600s quytt, late Middle English quytten (perhaps transmission error), late Middle English whitt; Scottish pre-1700 quatt, pre-1700 quitt, pre-1700 quyitt, pre-1700 quyitte, pre-1700 quytt, pre-1700 quytte, pre-1700 qwitt, pre-1700 qwytt, pre-1700 qwytte.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French quit.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman quit, quyt, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French quite, Anglo-Norman and Middle French quitte (French quitte ) acquitted, cleared of a moral accusation or blemish, absolved of (a sin) (all c1100), released or exempt from (an obligation) (beginning of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman), cleared of (a debt), (of property) exempt or released from (taxes), (of taxes) no longer payable (all second half of the 12th cent.), (of property) in full possession, free of dues (early 14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman) < a post-classical Latin variant of classical Latin quiētus quiet adj. with hypercorrect stress on the i (see discussion in Französisches etymol. Wörterbuch s.v. quietus). Compare post-classical Latin quitus, quittus exempt, immune (11th cent.), Old Occitan quit, quite (both c1150 or earlier; also quiti; Occitan quiti (now chiefly in quiti de apart from, except from)), Catalan quiti (12th cent.), Spanish quito (1207), Italian †quito (mid 13th cent. or earlier; also †quitto); also Old Frisian quyt, qwyt (West Frisian kwyt), Middle Dutch quīte, quijt (Dutch kwijt), Middle Low German quīt, Middle High German quit, quīt (German quitt, †queit), Old Icelandic kvittr, Old Swedish qvitter (Swedish kvitt), Old Danish, Danish kvit.Like its French etymon and quit v. (see discussion at that entry), the word appears originally to have had a long vowel, but forms with a short vowel are found from a relatively early date. Forms of both types are also found in post-classical Latin, as well as in other European languages which borrowed the word ultimately < Latin or French (see above). The α. and γ. forms show spelling types which can normally be taken respectively as showing long and short vowels; the β. forms are ambiguous and hence have been placed in a separate sequence. The eventual predominance of the form with short vowel is probably connected with the parallel development in the verb, in which the use of quit as past participle probably played a part (see discussion at quit v.). Compare quite adv. The Scots forms quat , quatt are after the corresponding strong past participial forms at quit v. With to go quit , to pass quit (see sense 1a) compare Anglo-Norman aler quite (c1290 or earlier), Middle French s'en aller quitte (early 15th cent. or earlier, used reflexively), Anglo-Norman passer quite (early 14th cent. or earlier), Middle Dutch quite gaen . With quit and free , free and quit (see senses 1a, 1c) compare Middle French quitte et franc , franc et quitte (both late 14th cent.). With to make (a person) quit of at sense 3b compare Middle Dutch quite maken (Dutch †qwijt maken ), quite doen . Sense 2 is rare in French and apparently not paralleled there until later (early 15th cent. in Middle French).
I. In predicative use.
1.
a. Exempt or released from an obligation, debt, etc.; free, clear. Also (more emphatically) †quit and free. to be quit for: to get off with, suffer nothing more than. to pass (also go, escape, etc.) quit: to escape unharmed; to go unchecked or unpunished. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > [adjective] > getting rid of > rid of
quit?c1225
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [adjective] > clear of or free from obligation
quit?c1225
quiet1473
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 4 For sum is strong. sum vn strong. & mei fulwel beon quite [c1230 Corpus cwite] & Paien god mid lesse.
a1300 Passion our Lord 370 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 47 (MED) Hit is eur kustume to habbe quyt enne At eure Muchele feste euervyche yere; Schal ich þere gywene kyng lete gon al skere?
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 1218 With luf & leue he quede vs quite, & gyf vs schippes in to wende.
a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) 685 Bot so he wend have passed quite.
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 266 (MED) For the whiche resceivyng he claymed the forsaid Religeous women quytte fro all impeticion or axyng..of the cc li.
1497–8 in G. Neilson & H. Paton Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1918) II. 127 Now am I fully quyt As twichand Venus of myn ald promyt Quhilk I hir maid.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. lxxviiiv The great fysshe ar taken..Where as the small escapyth quyte and fre.
?1577 J. Northbrooke Spiritus est Vicarius Christi: Treat. Dicing 52 What faultes great men alwayes committe, Are pardoned still, and goeth quitte.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 22 Gif the persewer compeirs nocht..the defender sall passe quite.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 477 I..must submiss endure Check or reproof, and glad to scape so quit . View more context for this quotation
1768 T. Gray Let. 28 Jan. in Corr. (1971) III. 998 We..are quit for the fright, except the damage abovementioned.
1808 W. Selwyn Abridgem. Law Nisi Prius II. xix. 716 The judgment shall be against him only..and the other shall go quit.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. xiii. 307 Harry Esmond was quit for a fall on the grass.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. v. 124 When the book was restored the borrower [was] declared quit.
1928 Eng. Hist. Rev. 43 322 This charter confers the right of having one man quit from tallage in every royal borough.
b. Free, clear, rid of (a person or thing); acquitted of an offence. Also with †from.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > non-possession > [adjective] > devoid of something > lacking or without
wane971
quit?c1225
helpless1362
desolatec1386
wantsomea1400
ungirtc1412
voidc1420
wantinga1475
destitutea1500
unfurnished1541
defect1543
bankrupt1567
frustrate1576
wanting1580
wanting1592
sterile1642
minus1807
lacking1838
to be stuck up for1860
short1873
wanting1874
quits1885
light1936
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > not hindering or encumbering > not hindered or encumbered > unburdened (by trouble, etc.)
quit?c1225
unburdened1548
clear1569
clear1635
quits1885
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 71 Ach ase quite [c1230 Corpus cwite] as ȝe beoð of þullich leoue sustren weren alle oðre ure lauerd hit uðe.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8062 (MED) Þo was Willam oure king al quit of þulke fon, Vor þer ne bileuede of hor children aliue bote on.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 41 Of þise zennes ne byeþ naȝt kuytte [c1450 Bk. Vices & Virtues beþ þei coupable] þo þet þe guodes of holy cherche..despendeþ in kueade us.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 145 (MED) Of þise dette ne is non quit uor þing þet he deþ.
c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 1525 Who is qwitte of one temptacioune [L. ab una tentatione liberatur] happily, The deville will noght dwelle lange to make ane othere redy.
c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls 663 Quyt is she Fro yow this yer.
c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 6 (MED) Have no drede, for ye schal neuer see theym [sc. potential enemies]..Of theym ye be quytt.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 309 But now may ye be revenged on hym, for I may nevir by quyte of hym.
c1480 (a1400) St. Pelagia 136 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 208 Haffand rycht gret delyte of þare synnis to be quyte.
1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Rome in Complaints viii Nought from the Romane Empire might be quight.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxix. 1 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 205 Quitt and cleere from doing wrong.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 141 Throuch desyre..to be quyte of the glore of a king.
c1600 in J. Balfour Practicks (1754) 307 Or ȝit thay beand accusit..beis quyte and clengit thairof.
1641 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) f. 160 Ferdfare is to be quit from going to warre.
1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness v. xvii. 209 Nor shall we ever be quit from the crime of slaying the Witnesses.
1669 J. Fletcher Island Princess ii. i. 28 I will not rest..Till I be wholly quit of this dishonour.
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 214 Their Gain consists in being quit of the Charge as soon as they can.
1741 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 6 Aug. (1932) (modernized text) II. 464 Awkwardnesses which many people contract..and cannot get quit of them.
a1784 H. Alline Hymns & Spiritual Songs (1802) v. xci. 275 O how transported I shall be When I am quit from all but love!
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park I. xvii. 330 They..seemed to think it as great an escape to be quit of the intrusion of Charles Maddox, as if they had been forced into admitting him against their inclination. View more context for this quotation
1840 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. vii. 108 To me..it would be a great release to be quit of the trouble and expense.
1845 Economy 154 It is the doctor's duty to see you quit from all this.
1895 J. Tweeddale Moff xx. 199 If it was jist quat o' that blessed creddle, that it wud ne'er look ower the shoother o't.
1930 J. Buchan Castle Gay i. 9 When he was getting dangerous his eyes used to run with tears. He's quit of that habit now.
1945 F. Partridge Diaries 1945–60 (1985) 20 Ralph is not quit of his wartime melancholy.
1997 P. Carey Jack Maggs (1998) lxxiv. 278 He is tired of Sophina. He wishes to be quit of her, but she cannot afford to leave him.
†c. Law. Of real property: exempt or released of or from taxes, service, or other claims. Also more emphatically quit and free (also free and quit). quit and clear: free of encumbrances. Obsolete (historical in later use).
ΚΠ
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 9827 (MED) Þan ys oure charter quyte and clere, Confermyng with þe bysshopes powere.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 83 (MED) William passid þe se, þer of he mad þe skrite, Of France to hold þat fe of oþer tenement alle quite.
c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 65 (MED) Knowe ye me to haue i-yeve..þe goter or locke, þat is i-callid aldewere, fre and quite.
c1475 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Caius) 10842 (MED) Thys day halfen-deale Englond I wyll sease into thyn hand Euer-more quyte and free.
a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 67 (MED) The Statutes or constytuciones of that consayle ben this..that al the landis of holy church and har Possessiones of al Erthly askynge be quyte.
a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) vii. l. 3546 Schir Wilȝame til haf þat qwyte, To halde in fre barowny.
1876 J. Grant Hist. Burgh Schools Scotl. i. i. 4 Free and quit from all custom, synodal rent, aids, lodgings and conreds.
†2. Destitute, deprived of (also from). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Vitell.) (1966) 204 (MED) Mihste þe Amirayl hit vnderȝete, Sone of his liue he were quite [v.r. aquite].
c1300 St. Eustace (Laud) 242 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 399 (MED) Dame..of ore leoue sones quite we beoth, alas; For a leon bar þat on a-wei, and a wolf þat oþur also.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 319 Fro our wages [we] ȝede quite.
a1425 (c1333–52) L. Minot Poems (1914) 25 (MED) Now haue þai made þi biging bare, Of all þi catell ertou quite.
c1450 (?a1400) Quatrefoil of Love (BL Add.) (1935) 363 (MED) In a clathe are we knytt, And sythen putt in a pytt, Of alle þis werlde are we qwitt, For-getyn are we sone.
†3. Chiefly Scottish.
a. to make quit (of): to do away with or dispose of someone or something; to make a clearance. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vii. l. 504 The formast sone hym selff sesyt in hand, Maid quyt off hym.
a1525 Crying ane Playe 124 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 153 Amang þaim Is bot tak & sla Cut thropillis and mak quyte.
1586 R. Maitland in W. A. Craigie Maitland Quarto MS (1920) 75/32 Sum may be westouris and mak quyte of all.
b. to make (a person) quit of: to rid (a person) of someone or something; (also) to deprive (a person) of someone or something (cf. sense 2). Obsolete (archaic in later use).
ΚΠ
a1513 Lufaris Complaynt in Speculum (1954) 29 173 Fortune..has..maid me both of hope and comfort quite.
1568 ( D. Lindsay Satyre (Bannatyne) l. 1177 in Wks. (1931) II. 206 Off that cummer I sall mak ȝou quyt.
1573 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlii. 911 It wald mak vs quyte Of Christis Euangell, our delyte.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 232 Ethelfred is maid quyt of ane eye.
c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1851) II. 7 And so wes maid quyte of the soldiouris.
1815 W. Scott Antiquary I. i. 10 ‘O, man, man!’ said the overwhelmed Mrs Macleuchar, totally exhausted by having been so long the butt of his rhetoric, ‘take back your three shillings, and mak me quit o' ye.’
1874 A. C. Swinburne Bothwell iv. vi. 400 There is one thing That I would ask of even such friends as you—To turn me with my lord adrift at sea And make us quit of all men.
†4.
a. = quits adj. 2a. Cf. quittance n. Phrases 2. Obsolete. double or quit: see double adv. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [adjective] > equal or even with someone or something
quit1490
quits1625
straight1730
trick and tie1825
to be evens1844
square1859
peels1881
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) x. 268 I have yelde you agen that ye had gyven me, we be now quyte [Fr. nous sommes par esgal].
a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) 499 (MED) I shalle be bothe hole and quite, Though thou haue sore woundid me.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 168 (MED) Yef ye will leve me, and yef ye ne will, leve me nought; for I ne leve yow nought, and so be we quyte.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. i. 90 If once I finde thee ranging, Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing. View more context for this quotation
1718 M. Prior Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 197 ‘To John I ow'd’, Sure John and I are more than Quit.
1757 R. Griffith & E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances I. xviii. 26 But we are now quit; and your Generosity is equal to mine.
1821 F. Reynolds Don John ii. ii. 28 O! the traitor! He has watch'd his time. I shall be quit with him.
1876 C. Wells Joseph & his Brethren i. iii. 58 Second Ishmaelite. These are true pieces bearing Pharaoh's mark. Simeon. So—Now we are quit.
b. to cry (a person) quit: to declare oneself even or equal with (a person), esp. by mean of retaliation or repayment. Also to cry quit with a person. Cf. to cry quittance at quittance n. Phrases 2, to cry quits at quits adj. 2a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > be, get, or declare oneself even
to make oneself evenc1390
to cry quittance1579
to cry (a person) quit1590
to cry quits1625
to start faira1637
to get hunk (with)1845
1590 T. Fenne Hecubaes Mishaps in Frutes sig. Dd3 Meane while when that J knevv his mind, and hauing place so fit I did inuent in secrete sort to cry the Grecian quit.
1605 G. Chapman Al Fooles ii. i. sig. E3 Very well, mast Courtier, & Dan Cornuto, ile cry quit with both.
1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. i. 5 If we would cry quit with the Remonstrant..wee could tell him a Tale.
1861 G. A. Townsend Bohemians iii. i. 30 We pocket the balance and cry you quit.
†II. In attributive use.
5. Complete, total. Cf. clean adj. 14. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adjective]
fulleOE
plenara1325
perfectc1350
completec1380
heala1399
plenary?a1425
absolute1531
explete1534
well-accomplished1568
quit1583
orbeda1657
orbicular1673
saturate1682
rounded1746
broad-blown1855
plene1867
choate1878
ten tenth1948
1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. viii. 382 To..the quite marring of all her musicke.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 628 [This will] make a quit riddance of all their hurts.
1674 Certain Considerations Peace & Good Will 7 If..there cannot be obtained a quite removall of the Premises.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

quitv.

Brit. /kwɪt/, U.S. /kwɪt/
Inflections: Past tense and past participle quit, quitted;
Forms: 1. Present stem.

α. early Middle English cwite, Middle English guyte (perhaps transmission error), Middle English queyt, Middle English queyte, Middle English quiyte, Middle English quyit, Middle English quyty, Middle English qvyte, Middle English qvyth, Middle English qwyght, Middle English qwyte, Middle English white (chiefly north midlands and northern), Middle English whyte (chiefly north midlands and northern), Middle English–1500s qwite, Middle English–1600s quyte, Middle English– quite (now archaic), 1500s quight, 1500s quyght; English regional (northern) 1600s– white, 1700s–1800s wite, 1800s– wheyte, 1800s– whyte; Scottish pre-1700 quait, pre-1700 queat, pre-1700 queit, pre-1700 queyt, pre-1700 quhyit, pre-1700 quhyte, pre-1700 quiet, pre-1700 quiyt, pre-1700 quyet, pre-1700 quyit, pre-1700 quyite, pre-1700 qwhite, pre-1700 qwite, pre-1700 qwyte, pre-1700 1700s quyte, pre-1700 1700s– quite, 1800s keit (Aberdeenshire, in sense 11c), 1900s– hwite (Shetland), 1900s– white (Shetland and Orkney); N.E.D. (1902) also records forms late Middle English quyght, late Middle English qweyt.

β. Middle English qwyt, Middle English–1500s quyt, Middle English– quit, 1500s qwit, 1500s whyt (northern); Scottish pre-1700 quhit, pre-1700 quhyt, pre-1700 quyt, pre-1700 qwhit, pre-1700 qwit, pre-1700 qwyt, pre-1700 1700s– quit, pre-1700 (1900s– Shetland) whit, 1700s 1900s– quet, 1800s kit (Ayrshire, in sense 11c), 1900s– hwet (Shetland), 1900s– whet (Shetland); also Irish English (northern) 1800s– quet, 1800s– quut.

γ. Middle English quyȝtt, Middle English–1500s quytte, Middle English–1500s qwytt, Middle English–1600s quitt, Middle English–1600s quitte, 1500s quitten (archaic), 1500s wheitt (northern), 1500s whytte (northern); Scottish pre-1700 quett, pre-1700 quhitt, pre-1700 quytt, pre-1700 quytte, pre-1700 qwitt, pre-1700 qwytt, pre-1700 1700s quitt, 1800s whett (Shetland).

2. Past tense. a.

α. Middle English–1500s quite, Middle English–1500s quyte; Scottish pre-1700 quhyte, pre-1700 quiet, pre-1700 quyte, pre-1700 1700s quite.

β. Middle English qwit, Middle English qwyt, Middle English–1500s quyt, Middle English– quit; Scottish pre-1700 quhit, pre-1700 quyt, pre-1700 qwyt, pre-1700 1700s– quit, pre-1700 (1900s– Orkney) quet, 1900s– whet (Shetland and Orkney).

γ. Middle English qwitte, Middle English whitte, Middle English 1600s quytt, Middle English–1500s quytte, Middle English–1600s quitte, Middle English–1700s quitt; Scottish pre-1700 1700s quitt.

b. English regional (Yorkshire) 1800s– quat, 1800s– quot; Scottish pre-1700 quait, pre-1700 quatt, pre-1700 quatte, pre-1700 quott, pre-1700 qwat, pre-1700 qwatt, pre-1700 1700s 1900s– quate, pre-1700 1700s– quat, 1800s– whatt (Shetland). c. Middle English–1500s quyted, Middle English– quitted, 1500s quighted, 1500s–1800s quited; Scottish pre-1700 queitted, pre-1700 quhyttit, pre-1700 quithit (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 quyted, pre-1700 quytit, pre-1700 1700s– quitted, 1900s– quittit. 3. Past participle. a.

α. Middle English qwyte, Middle English (1800s English regional (northern)) quite, Middle English–1500s quyte; Scottish pre-1700 queat, pre-1700 queit, pre-1700 quyet, pre-1700 quyit, pre-1700 quyite, pre-1700 quyte, pre-1700 qwyte, pre-1700 1800s quite.

β. Middle English iquyt, Middle English qwit, Middle English qwyt, Middle English yquit, Middle English yquyt, Middle English–1500s quyt, Middle English– quit; Scottish pre-1700 quet, pre-1700 quyt, pre-1700 qwit, pre-1700 qwyt, pre-1700 1700s– quit, 1900s– whaet (Shetland), 1900s– whet (Shetland).

γ. Middle English iquitte, Middle English iquytt, Middle English iquytte, Middle English qwitt, Middle English qwitte, Middle English qwytte, Middle English whitt, Middle English yquytt, Middle English yquytte, Middle English–1500s quytt, Middle English–1500s quytte, Middle English–1500s qwytt, Middle English–1600s quitte, 1500s–1600s quitt; Scottish pre-1700 quitt, pre-1700 quytt.

b. English regional (Yorkshire) 1800s– quotten; Scottish pre-1700 quate, pre-1700 quhatt, pre-1700 qwat, pre-1700 1700s– quat, pre-1700 1800s quatt; Irish English (northern) 1800s– quat. c. Middle English yquytted, Middle English–1500s quyted, Middle English–1800s quited, 1500s quytted, 1500s– quitted, 1800s– quitten (English regional (Yorkshire)); Scottish pre-1700 quutten, pre-1700 quyited, pre-1700 quyted, pre-1700 quytit, pre-1700 quytted, pre-1700 quyttit, pre-1700 1700s– quitted, 1800s quattit, 1800s quitten; N.E.D. (1902) also records a form Middle English iquited. See also quat v.2
Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French quiter, quitier.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French quiter, (chiefly Picardy and eastern, by analogy with verbs in -ier ) quitier, Anglo-Norman and Middle French quitter (French quitter ) to free, release (a person) (c1150), to release, discharge, exonerate (a person) from (an obligation, payment of a debt, etc.), to exonerate (a person) from an accusation or blame (all second half of the 12th cent.; early 14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman used reflexively in sense ‘to clear oneself of (an accusation or blame)’), to cede, yield, hand (a possession) over (to another person) (c1175), to abandon, relinquish, renounce (a right or possession) (second half of the 13th cent.), to leave (a person) (second half of the 15th cent. with reference to permanently abandoning a spouse, mid 16th cent. with reference to temporarily taking leave of a person), to leave, go away from (a place) (1550), in Anglo-Norman also to repay (a debt) (mid 14th cent. or earlier) < quite , quitte quit adj. Compare post-classical Latin quitare (from early 12th cent. in British and continental sources), post-classical Latin quittare (13th cent. in British and continental sources), Old Occitan, Occitan quitar (c1150), Catalan †quitiar (end of the 12th cent.), quitar (late 13th cent.), Spanish quitar (1207), Portuguese quitar (13th cent.), Italian †quitare (late 13th cent. or earlier; also †quittare ), Middle Dutch quīten (Dutch kwijten ), Middle Low German quīten , Middle High German quīten , German †quitten , quittieren , Old Icelandic kvitta , Old Swedish qvitta (Swedish kvitta ), Danish kvitte (16th cent. as †quitte ). Compare also post-classical Latin quietare quiet v. Compare quit adj. and see discussion at that entry, and also acquit v., requite v., requit v.1The word appears to have had a long vowel originally, but forms with a short vowel are found from an early date, as also in French and Latin; compare the α. forms and γ. forms respectively. A large number of spellings are ambiguous with regard to vowel length, and have hence been placed separately at the β. forms. Compare quit adj. The fact that the most common past tense and past participle forms were of the type quit , quitte , whereas regularized quited is considerably rarer in early use, may have helped the subsequent standardization on the short-vowel type quit . This may not yet have been complete in the mid 17th cent., as the orthoepist Thomas Hunt in 1661 regarded quit and quite as homophones, although his evidence is not necessarily reliable (see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §12). The long-vowel type quite is now only in archaic use. During the first half of the 17th cent. the past tense and participle vary between quit and quitted , the former being frequently employed even by writers who use quit in the infinitive and present. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries quitted was the dominant past tense and past participle form in British English, as noted by N.E.D. (1902), but in recent years it has lost ground to quit , which N.E.D. (1902) characterized as chiefly used in regional dialects and colloquial American English. In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). Scots forms with stem vowel e (as quet , whet ) present difficulties of analysis; in the listing of forms above it is assumed that they show a development from the stem vowel i , but it is possible that (at least as they occur in modern use) the past tense and past participle forms in e should instead be regarded as showing strong past forms (hence Forms 2b and 3b rather than Forms 2a and 3a) and the corresponding present-stem forms be analysed as developed from them (and hence be placed at quat v.2).
I. To pay; to repay.
1.
a. transitive. To pay (a debt, penalty, due, etc.). Now archaic and rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > payment of debt > pay debt [verb (transitive)]
quit?c1225
acquita1250
to pay up1434
satisfy1437
discharge1439
defease1480
persolve1548
solve1558
defray1576
affray1584
clear1600
to pay off1607
extinguish1630
to lay downa1640
wipe1668
settle1688
sink1694
retrieve1711
to clear up1726
balance1740
liquidate1755
to clear off1766
square1821
amortize1830
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 102 Þet is ure ranceun þet we schule reimen us wið. & quiten [c1230 Corpus cwitin; a1250 Titus cwiten; a1250 Nero acwiten] ure dettes toward ure lauerd.
a1350 ( in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 132 (MED) Sire simond de montfort haþ suore bi ys top, Heuede he nou here sire hue de bigot, al he shulde quite here tuelfmoneþ scot.
c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 1008 What thyng it is that wommen moost desire, Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quyte youre hyre.
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 3920 (MED) He may þan In purgatory qwyte alle þe dett.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 66 For to quyte thair dett to thair lord, of the grete charge thai haue tane of haly kirk.
a1500 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Chetham) l. 138 Well he hathe quyt my wage.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) i. i. 22 A thousand markes..To quit the penalty, and to ransome him. View more context for this quotation
1668 in Rothesay Town Council Rec. (1935) I. 162 The parties and comprysars war hard and the defendars could not quett the skaith.
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 110 I'le pay the reckoning, and quit this honest Countrey-mans Charge.
1759 W. H. Dilworth Life of Pope 82 He took the opportunity of quitting scores with them.
a1800 W. Cowper Epist. to R. Lloyd in Poems (1980) I. 55 That I may fairly quit The debt, which justly became due.
1854 in Whately Cautions for Times 131 The souls in Purgatory..only quit the score of punishment which they have not yet paid in this life.
1915 Oxf. Mag. 21 May 317/1 Our altar smoke With offering dear the debt shall quite.
†b. transitive. With indirect and direct object: to pay (a person) (his or her due). Esp. with meed or hire as direct object. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) 2004 (MED) For þat he is so trewe & kende, Y schal quite [v.r. aquite] him his mede.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 770 The blisful martir quyte [v.r. white] yow youre mede.
a1425 (c1333–52) L. Minot Poems (1914) 23 (MED) Inglis men with site þam soght And hastily quit þam þaire hire.
c1450 Lay Folks Mass Bk. (Newnh.) (1879) 357 (MED) That hey holi god he queyte the thi mede.
1550 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet (new ed.) sig. Bi Let me take vengeance, saith the Lord, And I wyll quyte them all theyr hyre.
1600 E. Fairfax Godfrey of Bulloigne ii. 26 Thinke on thy sinnes, which mans old foe presents Before that iudge that quites each soule his hire.
†2. transitive. To pay or bear responsibility for (a thing). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > bear or defray the cost of
quitc1275
maintaina1425
pay1446
fray1450
abye1503
price?a1513
be1520
to stand to ——1540
disburse1548
defray1581
discharge1587
reimburse1591
discount1647
to be at the charge(s of1655
to pay off1711
stand1808
pop1947
c1275 Lutel Soth Serm. (Calig.) 77 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 190 (MED) Robin wule Gilot leden to þen ale..He mai quiten hire ale.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 6685 (MED) If..þat tan Þe toþer smite..Þe smiter sal quite his lechyng.
a1450 ( in J. Kail 26 Polit. Poems (1904) 2 (MED) Thy soule is goddis rent: Quyte that wele in loue and drede.
a1500 in T. Silverstein Eng. Lyrics before 1500 (1971) 80 (MED) By vs oure dyner whoso wol, The dede schal quyten al at the fulle.
†3.
a. transitive. With indirect and direct object: to repay (a person) for (a kindness, favour, injury, etc.). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > treat one as he has been treated [verb (transitive)] > requite or pay back (a person)
foryield971
to quit or yield (one) his whilec1175
acquitc1300
quitc1330
restore?a1400
refound1438
requite1530
regrate?c1550
repay1557
redub1558
quittance1590
to meet witha1593
to pay (a person) (off) scot and lot1598
meeta1625
retaliate1629
reimburse1644
compensate1804
to even up on1879
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2258 Ȝe quite him iuel his swink.
c1390 G. Chaucer Manciple's Tale 293 O false theef..I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 4422 (MED) Ill es þe quit [a1400 Fairf. ille ys quitte þe] þi god seruis!
a1450 York Plays (1885) 498 (MED) Ofte haue þei greued me greuously, Þus have þei quitte me my kyndinesse.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. clxxxii God shall the here, and quyte the thy trauayle.
1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. Pref. sig. a ij Since we soo quyt theym their kyndnes, and departed so litle in their det.
1591 (?a1425) Adam & Eve (Huntington) in R. M. Lumiansky & D. Mill Chester Myst. Cycle (1974) I. 35 (MED) Lord, here may thou see such corne as grew to mee..I hope thou wilte white mee this and sende mee more of worldly blisse.
b. transitive. To repay (a kindness, favour, etc.); to avenge (a wrong). Obsolete (archaic in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > reward or a reward > reward or recompense [verb (transitive)] > specifically a service or good deed
quita1375
deservec1385
reward?a1425
requitec1440
thanka1500
remunerate1523
reacquite1534
gratulate1612
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > treat one as he has been treated [verb (transitive)] > requite or pay back (a person) > an action
yieldOE
acquitc1330
requitec1440
recompensea1450
paya1500
quitc1515
requit1532
reacquite1534
repay1557
quittance1590
retribute1612
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > execute (vengeance) [verb (transitive)] > repay (an injury)
pay?c1450
rewardc1475
quitc1515
requite1529
requit1532
quittance1590
retaliate1606
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 325 (MED) Alle þi frendes fordedes faire schalstow quite.
c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls 112 Sumdel of thy labour wolde I quyte.
a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) 4748 (MED) His trauelle shalle be ryȝt welle y-quytte.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. cviv As I am cristynit perfite I sall thi kyndnes quyte.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) liv. 183 I shall quyte your mockes.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxxxvii. 26 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 232 Thou, ô lord, shalt not forgett To quitt the paines of Edoms race.
1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. v. sig. I4 The rape of your good Lady has beene quited.
a1632 T. Taylor God's Judgem. (1642) i. i. ix. 199 On this manner was the Duke of Orleance death quitted.
1737 G. Lillo Fatal Curiosity ii. ii. 32 I am much thy debtor, But I shall find a time to quit thy kindness.
1792 S. Whyte Coll. Poems 182 We might in turn, to quit their kindness, Enchafe their spleen and show their blindness.
a1842 W. Maginn Chevy Chase in Miscellanies (1885) I. 271 Percy, an I brook my life, Thy death well quit shall be.
1879 E. Arnold Light of Asia v. 137 If I attain I will return and quit thy love.
c. transitive. To be equal to; to match, balance, redress. Frequently in to quit (the, one's) cost. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > be equivalent to
quitc1375
countervailc1380
containa1387
value1561
to go for ——1574
countervalue1581
weigh1583
avail1598
reanswer1598
commeasure1615
imply1634
equivalence1646
equivale1659
c1375 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 3564 She that bar the ceptre..Shal bere a distaf hire cost for to quyte.
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) i. 185 (MED) To tile a feeld, me most ha diligence..A litel tiled wel wul quyte expence.
a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) 5700 (MED) Eche creature of nature hym delitith, That on good turne another quytith.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. ix The rough otes be the worst..and it quyteth nat the cost to sowe them.
1552 King Edward VI Chron. & Polit. Papers (1966) (modernized text) 123 And if it would quit cost or more to go forward withal.
1608–11 Bp. J. Hall Epist. i. viii, in Wks. (1627) 288 Nothing can quite the cost and labour of trauell, but the gaine of wisdome.
a1652 R. Brome Eng. Moor i. i. 4 in Five New Playes (1659) It is not grief can quit a fathers blood.
1738 tr. S. Guazzo Art of Conversat. 54 Another begins thus; ‘I can quit your story with just such another of a like Mischance.’
1787 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 106 Nor would that country quit the cost of being retained against the will of the inhabitants.
1849 J. F. Cooper Sea Lions II. ix. 126 That would hardly quit cost, Daggett; it would bebetter to come over and pass the heel of the winter with us, when the supplies get to be short here.
1869 G. A. Simcox Poems & Romances 124 They cannot quit its cost, Giving gems and fairy gold Till they find the mystic token.
†4.
a. intransitive. To make return; to repay. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > payment of debt > pay debt [verb (intransitive)]
quit1378
recompense1742
clear1753
settle1788
square1821
to straighten up1914
1378 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 280 (MED) Myn owne dere cosyn..make ȝe cost & I shal wel quite.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 2 Kings xxii. 21 Þe lord schal ȝeelden to me aftir my riȝtwijsnesse, & after þe clennesse of my hondis he schal quyte [v.r. quyit; a1425 L.V. ȝelde; L. reddet] to me, for I haue kept þe weies of þe lord.
a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) 1374 (MED) For to lene, hast þow be loth, And for to quite, hast þou be wroth?
a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 10872 (MED) Þan may he right wel wite Þat wel shal borwe þat wel wole quite.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxxiv. 22 The synful sall borow, and he sall noght quyte.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 11 (MED) With the same mesure and weght That I boro will I qwite.
a1500 Foly of Fulys & Thewis of Wysmen 377 in R. Girvan Ratis Raving & Other Early Scots Poems (1939) 62 Thai borow rady and quitis nocht, And wald neuir pay the thing thai bocht.
a1600 J. Melvill Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 7 I fand..that it was guid to len and giff to God, and nocht stand for his honour to quyt whatsumevir, for he wald repey twyse als guid.
b. transitive. To return or pay back (something taken or owed); to give (a thing) in return for something else. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] > give in return
yield971
quita1400
gain-yield1435
render1477
answer1565
regive1575
return1584
to give backa1586
redound1597
retort1602
re-render1628
remete1647
the mind > possession > giving > giving back or restitution > give back [verb (transitive)]
yieldc897
agiveOE
again-setOE
restorec1325
acquitc1330
to pay outa1382
refundc1386
to give againa1400
quita1400
restituec1400
reliver1426
surrend1450
redeliver1490
refer1496
render1513
rebail1539
re-present1564
regive1575
to give backa1586
to turn back1587
relate1590
turn1597
returna1632
to hand back1638
redonate1656
reappropriate1659
re-cede1684
revert1688
replace1776
restitute1885
to kick back1926
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 27867 (MED) Euer þe plight es foluand pain, Til wrang takinyng be quite [a1425 Galba ȝolden] again.
?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 215 (MED) For o schrewed word a man mot quyte anoþer or moo.
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 284 (MED) The seid Nicholas and his heires or her assignes shold quyte and defende the forsaid ij half acres to the forsaid holy mynchons..for ever.
a1500 Ratis Raving (1939) 550 And he had lent thar pennis thre that neuir thai agan quit suld bee.
5. transitive. To repay or reward (a person), esp. with something, or for something done. In later use frequently English regional (northern), esp. in God quit you and variants. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > reward or a reward > reward or recompense [verb (transitive)]
foryield971
yield971
crownc1175
shipec1275
payc1330
to do meeda1350
rewardc1350
guerdonc1374
reguerdona1393
to do (one) whyc1400
quitc1400
recompense1422
salary1477
merit1484
requite1530
requit1532
reacquite1534
to pay home1542
remunerate1542
regratify1545
renumerate?1549
gratify?c1550
acquit1573
consider1585
regratiate1590
guerdonize1594
munerate1595
regratulate1626
reprise1677
sugar-plum1788
ameed1807
recompensate1841
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 595 (MED) Þou quytez vchon as hys desserte.
a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) 381 (MED) For ȝowre trauail and ȝowre spens He wil ȝow quite.
c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 67 (MED) He wolde quyte him well for his labour [Fr. s'il le vouloit bien paier].
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) li. sig. Kv Syth he had done me one displeasure I shall quite him agayne with two.
1576 J. Woolton Christian Man. sig. C.i Let vs not with like thanks quite almightye God for his greate benefyts bestowed vppon vs.
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 107 Bot at the last I wait he will hir quyte [rhymes dispyte, perfyte, wyte].
a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Old Law (1656) ii. 27 When I visit, I come comfortably, And look to be so quited.
1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre iv. iii. 57 in Wks. II Heauen quit you, Gentlemen.
c1650 (a1500) Eger & Grime (Percy) (1933) 2300 If ever ye come where that I dwel, I shal quite you of your travel.
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. i. 33 I understand..how to quit you your own way.
1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 53 To White: to Requite: as God white you.
1790 A. Wheeler Westmorland Dial. (1839) 16 Odd white..Iustice an king teea, for meaakin sic laas.
1850 T. Bewick Howdy & Upgetting 15 God wheyte her, for ill-behavin' se ti maw bayrne.
1935 E. R. Eddison Mistress xix. 384 There gathered a band together before Roquez's house supposing to have had out his lady..and quite her for those things they thought she had devised against them.
II. To set free, relinquish, or leave.
†6.
a. transitive. To set free, release; to rescue, save; to redeem. Frequently with from, out, out of. Chiefly with person as object. Also intransitive. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > rescue or deliver (from) [verb (transitive)]
areddec885
leeseOE
reddOE
winc1220
deliver?c1225
ridc1225
quita1250
betellc1275
casta1300
to cast outa1300
liverc1330
rescuec1330
wrechec1330
borrowc1350
to put out of ——c1350
to bring awaya1400
redea1400
wreakc1400
rescourec1425
rescousa1450
savec1480
relue1483
salue1484
redeem1488
recovera1500
redressa1500
eschewc1500
rescours1511
to pull (also snatch) out of the fire1526
recourse1533
withtakec1540
redeem1549
vindicate1568
retire1578
repair1591
reprieve1605
to bring off1609
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > set free [verb (transitive)] > deliver or redeem
freeOE
buyc1175
quita1250
frelsc1250
to buy out1297
out-takea1350
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Titus) (1963) 35 Þench as te prisun walde þat te oðer hurte sare wið þe bigurdel, & vnderfeng hit gladliche for to cwite [c1230 Corpus Cambr. acwiti] þe wið.
?a1300 Iacob & Iosep (Bodl.) (1916) 303 Ȝif he of mi sweuene seiþ me þen ende, Al his gult ich him forȝiue & quite..of bende.
c1380 G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale 66 Yif me wit and space That I be quyt from thennes that moost derk is.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 6680 Dei þai sal wit-vten lite, Wit-vten raunscun for to quitte.
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iv. 205 He was after traitour to the town Of Troye; allas, they quytte hym out to rathe!
c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 1366 Crist [was] borne to qwite man out of infernale disese [L. ut nos eriperet de inferno].
a1569 A. Kingsmill Viewe Mans Estate (1580) xi. 74 They counselled the people to quite Barabbas.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Feb. 213 For nought mought they quitten him from decay.
c1616 R. C. Times' Whistle (1871) vi. 2537 A litle mony from the law will quite thee.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 557 Arise therefore, quite thy cause, deliver thy people.
1652 T. Gataker Antinomianism 4 My intent..was..to qit [sic] one passage of Scripture from their abuse thereof.
1888 C. M. Doughty Trav. Arabia Deserta I. viii. 235 To quit the convoy from all hostile question & encounter.
b. transitive. To free or rid of something undesirable or troublesome; to release from a debt or obligation. Chiefly with person as object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > get or be rid of > rid of something
cleansea1250
quita1387
unladea1398
deliverc1400
quiet1450
clear1535
discussa1542
free1590
unload1591
unstable1612
deonerate1623
discard1656
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > be exempt from (a liability or obligation) [verb (transitive)] > free from obligation
freeeOE
unbind1297
quitclaima1325
acquit1340
excuse1340
loose1340
releasec1350
assoil1366
soilc1384
dischargea1387
quita1387
relieve1416
absoil1440
deliver1440
acquittance1448
quiet1450
acquiet1453
absolve?a1475
defease1475
skill1481
relax1511
redeema1513
exoner1533
exonerate1548
solvec1550
distask1592
disgage1594
upsolve1601
disoblige1603
disengage1611
to get off1623
exclude1632
supersedea1644
to let off1814
to let out1869
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > get or be rid of
refusea1387
to be rid of (also on)c1450
beskyfte1470
to be, get shut of, (dialect) shut on?a1500
to claw off1514
get1558
to put away1577
to get rid of1591
quit1606
to get off with1719
ding1753
shoot1805
to stay shet of1837
shuck1848
shunt1858
shake1872
to dust off1938
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 317 He delyvered and quitte [?a1475 anon. tr. releyschede; L. liberavit] alle þe cherches..of alle manere kynges tribute.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 677/1 I wyll quyte hym for a grote of all the dettes he oweth.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 11509 To qwheme & to white vs of skaithe, Euery buerne in þis burgh..Helpis now hertely.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iii. ii. 218 I should rob the deaths man of his fee, Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames.
1606 G. W. tr. Epit. Liues Emperors in tr. Justinus Hist. sig. Ii5 He quited Ancona and Dalmatia of the Saracens.
1668 S. Pepys Diary 4 Mar. (1976) IX. 102 She..made me resolve to quit my hands of this office.
1715 N. Rowe Lady Jane Gray iv. i That Mercy, Which quits me of the vast unequal Task.
1798 Geraldina II. 201 Two thousand guineas will not quit Revel of the expence.
1827 H. Taylor Isaac Comnenus in Wks. (1877) iii. v. 277 Your victory..quits us of all cares.
1841 R. E. Landor Faith's Fraud v. i. 208 He quits me of some crowns I lost and borrowed.
1897 F. Thompson New Poems 78 My soul is quitted of death-neighbouring swoon.
c. transitive (reflexive). To rid oneself of. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (reflexive)] > get rid of
spoila1395
quita1400
rid1530
acquit1595
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 11198 (MED) He dud alle mennes names write Þat of þis ȝelde shulde hem not quyte [c1460 Laud of this yeld shuld none hem quyte].
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. Argt. 299 He quiteth himselfe of the name and propertie of a tyraunt.
1606 G. W. tr. Epit. Liues Emperors in tr. Justinus Hist. sig. Ii5v He quitted himselfe of further trouble.
c1665 L. Hutchinson Life in Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) 284 He quitted himselfe of his employments abroad.
1703 W. Burkitt Expos. Notes New Test. Luke iv. 30 It was an easy thing for him..to quit himself of any Mortal Enemies.
1827 M. R. Mitford Wedding Ring 78 How can she quit herself Of that suspicion?
1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art i. 4 It requires some boldness to quit ourselves of these feelings.
1880 A. Trollope Duke's Children III. xxv. 291 He could not quit himself of some feeling of disgrace in that he had changed and she had not.
7.
a. transitive. To absolve or exonerate (a person) from blame, a crime, sin, etc. In later use with of or from. Also intransitive. Now archaic and rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > acquittal or clearing of accusation > acquit or clear of accusation [verb (transitive)]
quitc1300
acquita1393
discharge?a1439
acquittance1448
assoil1528
rid1530
absolve1539
to bring off1609
disimpeach1611
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > be exempt from (a liability or obligation) [verb (transitive)] > remit (an obligation)
quitc1300
remit1405
pardon1433
to dispense with1530
dispense1532
mitigate1651
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > acquittal or clearing of accusation > acquit [verb (intransitive)]
quit1549
acquit?1571
c1300 Body & Soul (Laud Misc. 108) (1889) 47 Iweneste þouȝ, gost, þe geyned out For to quite þe wiþ al..To seye i make þe my þral?
a1350 ( in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 19 (MED) Þe kynges traytour hast þou be..What sayst þou þareto? hou wolt þou quite þe?
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 1338 (MED) What shul we sey of..Þys fals men..Þat, for hate, a trewman wyl endyte, And a þefe for syluer quyte?
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 913 If thou be overcom thou shalt nat be quytte for losyng of ony of thy membrys, but thou shalt be shamed for ever to the worldis ende.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. xviv There shall be no delayes vntyll another Syse But outher quyt, or to infernall Gayle.
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 Cor. i. f. iv Menne maye peraduenture vnrighteously condemne or quyte.
1584 G. Peele Araygnem. Paris iv. iv. sig. Diiijv The man must quited be by heauens lawes.
1610 Bible (Douay) II. 2 Macc. iv. 47 Menelaus certes being guiltie of al the euil was quitted of the crimes.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iii. 87 Being cleared and quitted from all ante-facts how hainous soever, by their entrance into Christianity.
1755 Monitor No. 11. I. 84 It will be difficult to quit the advisers of such a misapplication, from a crime.
1930 New Statesman 1 Nov. 113/2 Absolved now we stand; Virtue is satisfied: But who shall quit us of this deeper sinning?
†b. transitive. To prove (a person) innocent of a suspicion or accusation; to declare not guilty of a crime. Usually with of or from. Also reflexive and intransitive. Obsolete.Superseded by acquit.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > clearing oneself > clear oneself [verb (reflexive)]
purgec1300
quita1400
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > justification > justify [verb (transitive)] > exculpate
cleansea1000
skere?c1225
unwreea1250
spurge1303
sunyiea1325
disblamec1374
quita1400
whitena1400
emplasterc1405
declare1460
clear1481
absolve1496
purgea1530
free1560
clenge1592
disculp1602
uncharge1604
exonerate1655
exculpate1656
wash1659
excriminate1661
to wipe the mouth of1687
disculpate1693
whitewash1703
rehabilitate1847
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > atonement > atone for [verb (transitive)] > by suffering
coupc1300
quita1400
smarta1425
expiate1665
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 14857 (MED) If it war sli maner wite, þat he þar-of ne moght him quite [a1400 Gött. quitt; a1400 Fairf. a-quite], þan his dome men suld him giue, Oiþer for to dei or liue.
a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) 3224 (MED) If he haue þis day respite, Tomorn he sal himseluen quite.
a1425 Rule St. Benet (Lansd.) (1902) 18 (MED) Ilkain ahat to quite þam of þis vice.
1533 J. Heywood Mery Play Iohan Iohan sig. B.i I thought..That he had louyd my wyfe, for to deseyue me And now he quytyth hym self.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. i. sig. Nv He..shall againe be tryde, And fairely quit him of th'imputed blame.
1605 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. (1833) II. 468 Gif thai find nocht cleirlie, thay can iustlie quyte.
1683 Apol. Protestants France iii. 11 Do not conclude before you have quitted the Subjects from that suspicion.
1715 R. Bentley Serm. Popery 12 Their known Poverty and perpetual Austerities wholly quit them of that suspicion.
8.
a. transitive (reflexive). To behave or conduct oneself, esp. satisfactorily or in a specified way; to play one's part. Now rare and archaic.Largely superseded by acquit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)] > do one's part in specific way
acquita1393
quitc1395
quiet1450
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > perform one's duty [verb (reflexive)]
quitc1395
quiet1450
fand1488
discharge1539
bequit1577
c1395 G. Chaucer Squire's Tale 673 I feith, squyer, thow hast thee wel yquyt [v.r. I-quytt].
1455 in Paston Lett. (1904) III. 27 Every man help..to redresse the myscheff that now regneth, and to quyte us lyke men in this querell.
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. (1482) ccxliii. 291 Manly and knyghtly he quytte hym in al maner poyntes.
a1500 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 373 (MED) Qwyte þe so to þi sogettys þat þou be more loued þen dred.
1589 ‘M. Marprelate’ Epitome D ij b Iohn of London..could haue quited himselfe no better then this.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. iv. 9 Quit your selues like men, and fight.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 188 Labour to quite our selves well in our sufferings.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1711 Samson hath quit himself Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish'd A life Heroic. View more context for this quotation
a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) X. 303 This is the fourth means to enable us to quit ourselves in the great duty of peaceableness.
1791 A. Yearsley Earl Goodwin i. 5 How then will noble Goodwin quit himself, While lost in torpid apathy he sees His country struggling with her woes?
1868 R. Browning Ring & Bk. II. v. 85 I rode, danced and gamed, Quitted me like a courtier.
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 15 Sept. 7/2 Let them contain themselves and quit themselves like men.
1991 H. Smart Pierrot 47 They quit themselves like men upon the ground.
†b. transitive (reflexive). To acquit oneself of a task or duty. Also with out of. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 9581 (MED) Quyte þe weyl oute of borghgang, Þat þou ne haue for hyt no wrang.
1483 tr. Guillaume de Deguileville Pylgremage Sowle v. xi. f. cii Of these..seuen [signes] ye haue quyte yow well.
1587 R. Hakluyt tr. R. de Laudonnière Notable Hist. Foure Voy. Florida f. 15v One which knew so well to quite himselfe of his charge, that all rancour..ceassed.
†c. transitive. To use (one's hands) effectively; to play (one's part). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1596 J. Harington New Disc. Aiax sig. C7 That I were like to quit my hands in the fray, as wel as any man.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. iv. 28 The generall subiect to a wel-wisht King Quit their owne part. View more context for this quotation
†9. transitive. To abstain from exacting (an obligation, etc.); to remit or cancel (a debt). Also with indirect object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun > evade (responsibility or obligation)
feignc1300
quita1425
waivec1440
to shift off1577
shift?1611
balk1631
to go off ——1749
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 6032 Ladyes shullen evere so curteis be That they shal quyte youre oth all free.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xviii. 22 The lordes dyd quyt me my ransom and prison.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 378 To quit the fine for one halfe of his goods, I am content. View more context for this quotation
1648 in W. Mackay & G. S. Laing Rec. Inverness (1924) II. 201 [The] provest declarit..that all he obteinit of the supperplus of the foirsaid sowme..wes simplie aucht hundreth merkis for the quhilk he did queit all the rest.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 509 Perhaps God will relent, and quit thee all his debt. View more context for this quotation
1693 C. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires vii. 137 For that Revenge I'le quit the whole Arrear.
a1820 J. Woodhouse Life Crispinus Scriblerus xiv, in Life & Poet. Wks. (1896) II. 26/2 This might be pleaded with the subject Bard To quit his quarter's debt.
1857 C. Mackay Voices from Mountains 66 Shall duty quit the debt we owe her?
10.
a. transitive. To abandon, relinquish, or renounce; to give up the use, possession, or benefit of.Sometimes with overtones of sense 11a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)]
forsakec893
forlet971
to reach upOE
agiveOE
yield?c1225
uptake1297
up-yield1297
yield1297
deliverc1300
to-yielda1375
overgivec1384
grant1390
forbeara1400
livera1400
forgoc1400
upgive1415
permit1429
quit1429
renderc1436
relinquish1479
abandonc1485
to hold up?1499
enlibertyc1500
surrender1509
cess1523
relent1528
to cast up?1529
resignate1531
uprender1551
demit1563
disclaim1567
to fling up1587
to give up1589
quittance1592
vail1593
enfeoff1598
revoke1599
to give off1613
disownc1620
succumb1632
abdicate1633
delinquish1645
discount1648
to pass away1650
to turn off1667
choke1747
to jack up1870
chuck up (the sponge)1878
chuckc1879
unget1893
sling1902
to jack in1948
punt1966
to-leave-
1429 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 15th Rep.: App. Pt. VIII: MSS Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry (1897) 10 in Parl. Papers (C. 8553) L. 207 The forsaide Wilham..all accyons..fra the day of the makyn of thir presentis, qwites, and..qwiteclemis for ever.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 34 (MED) Y will drawe no cutte for hym, for y quite my parte of hym [Fr. j'en quitte ma part].
a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) 3608 (MED) As for the land of Perce..My lord and fader quyte it in his dayes.
1573 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxix. 54 So had the cause bene quat, wer not for shame.
1612 J. Selden in M. Drayton Poly-olbion To Rdr. sig. A2v The Capricious faction will..neuer quit their Beliefe of wrong.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Wales 50 It seems that the Christian Britons at the Font quitted their Native names as barbarous.
1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. viii. 150 Resentment has taken Possession of the Temper,..and will not quit its Hold.
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. 69 Was it possible for Abraham, during his temporary sojournments among them..to persuade so many tribes to quit their dialect.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I II. ii. 47 Richelieu, once resolved, never quitted his object, till it became his own.
1860 N. Hawthorne Marble Faun II. xviii. 200 Persons of rank, who quit..their gayeties, their pomp and pride, and assume the penitential garb for a season.
1912 Catholic Encycl. XIV. 689/2 Horne survived, and though he could never be induced to quit his religious habit, was not attainted till 1540.
1993 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 23 Jan. a1/4 Mr. Dumont..was not quite so definite about quitting the lawsuit to take up the appointment.
†b. transitive. To yield, concede; to give or hand over. With indirect object or to, unto. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > hand over to another
i-taechec888
outreacheOE
sellc950
beteacha1000
areachc1000
turnc1175
handsellc1225
betakec1250
deliverc1300
beken1330
yielda1382
disposec1384
resigna1387
livera1400
to turn overa1425
deputea1440
overgive1444
quit?c1450
surrend1450
surrender1466
renderc1480
to give over1483
despose1485
refer1547
to pass over1560
to set over1585
behight1590
tip1610
consign1632
delegate1633
skink1637
to hand over1644
delate1651
to turn off1667
to turn in1822
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 101 I have leuer to quytte yow and gyue yow my parte.
1559 Q. Kennedy Lett. to Willock in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 273 I quyte ȝou the haill cause without farther disputatioun.
1627 G. Hakewill Apologie ii. v. 100 As God had quitted vnto them, all dominion over his Creatures.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 182 He might wisely quit his Mastership of the Wards to the Lord Say.
1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V III. xii. 371 Every argument, which..could induce him to quit the Imperial throne to Philip.
1824 J. Johnson Typographia I. 551 His father seems to have quitted the trade to him in 1576.
c. transitive. To let go, put down (something held in the hand). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > releasing hold > let go (something held or grasped) [verb (transitive)]
beleavea1250
leta1325
to let goc1384
to leave hold1556
to turn loose?1566
quita1586
unhand1603
relinquish1651
unseize1663
unfist1692
to leave go1776
unclasp1868
to loose hold1875
a1586 J. Stewart Poems (1913) 67 Sum quyts his sourd..And sum abiects thair helm and harneist veid.
1633 G. Herbert Temple: Sacred Poems 122 The servant instantly Quitting the fruit, seiz'd on my heart alone.
1701 Peebles Burgh Rec. (B.R.S.) II. 164 He drew his knyf and she quat his staff.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 102. ¶7 This teaches a Lady to quit her Fan gracefully when she throws it aside.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad viii. 287 The weak moment when she quits her shield.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. vii. ii. 145 A horseman..sprung from his horse, and, without quitting the bridle, rushed into the tent.
1952 H. J. R. Murray Hist. Board-games iv. 78 The capturing king must complete its move and be quitted before any of the captured pieces is removed.
d. transitive. to quit claim to: to abandon a claim to (a person or thing); (Law, now U.S.) to convey (one's interest in property). Cf. quitclaim v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > renounce
to claim quitc1314
to quit claimc1314
remisea1325
release1379
remit1379
renouncec1400
to put apart1455
discharge1466
to swear out1598
to quit claim to1664
remiss1701
cut1791
renunciate1848
1664 J. Howell tr. J. Nadányi Florus Hungaricus 111 Upon this Condition..that the Turk should quit Claim to Moldavia, but should retain Bulgary.
a1705 J. Howe in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1870) I. Ps. xii. 4 We must quit claim to ourselves and look on God as our owner.
1764 A. Murphy No One's Enemy but his Own iii. 75 He for ever quits claim to Lucinda.
1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 108 I, A.B...having remissed, released, and for ever quit claim to C.D...of all..debts.
1886 H. R. F. Bourne Eng. Merchants I. 66 Having..remitted and quitted claim to the king for all..debts.
1928 W. C. MacLeod Amer. Indian Frontier iii. xxviii. 434 In 1819 Florida was sold to the United States by Spain, and Spain quit claim to the Oregon Territory, all for $5,000,000.
2003 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Jrnl. Sentinel (Nexis) 22 Mar. d1 She can..get a blank quitclaim deed and fill it in, quitting claim to whatever portion of the property she wants in favor of her grandson.
11.
a. transitive. To leave or go away from (a place or person); to separate from or part with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)]
leaveeOE
beleavea1250
devoidc1325
voidc1330
roomc1400
wagc1400
departa1425
refusea1425
avoid1447
ishc1450
remove1459
absent1488
part1496
refrain1534
to turn the backc1540
quita1568
apart1574
shrink1594
to fall from ——1600
to draw away1616
to go off ——a1630
shifta1642
untenant1795
evacuate1809
exit1830
stash1888
split1956
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart from or leave [verb (transitive)]
leaveeOE
beleavea1250
devoidc1325
voidc1330
to pass out ofa1398
roomc1400
departa1425
avoid1447
ishc1450
part1496
quita1568
shrink1594
shifta1642
to turn out of ——1656
refraina1723
blow1902
a1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) xi. 53 Do ȝe the contrair, heir I quyt ȝow Tressoun.
1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine iv. ii. sig. I1v We know our exit, And quit the roome.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures vii. 19 Having quit the river he marched somewhat faster than ordinary.
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man ii. 260 Hope travels thro', nor quits us when we die.
1787 G. Winter New Syst. Husbandry 306 When the earth is sufficiently dry, so as to quit the hoe.
1833 H. Martineau Briery Creek v. 100 It is a serious matter to quit country and family and friends.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People v. §4. 242 The labourer was forbidden to quit the parish where he lived.
1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris ii. iii. 86 Old Bayard looked up, and when he did so young Bayard turned and quitted the room.
1958 Church Times 15 Aug. 4/3 When, after the 1918 armistice, he quit Trieste to settle in Paris, Stanislaus succeeded him.
1991 R. Price Foreseeable Future 47 Him living with her? Quitting you and your mother?
b. intransitive. Of a tenant: to vacate a rented property, esp. as required by the landlord.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > [verb (intransitive)] > leave residence
dislodge1520
unlodge1562
quit1750
1750 R. Bolton Justice of Peace for Irel. i. lxi. 433 (margin) Tenants not quitting according to their Notice to pay double Rent.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) IV. 74 A lease..determinable..on giving reasonable notice to quit.
1892 H. D. Traill Marq. Salisbury xii. 187 Tenants who would neither pay nor quit unless removed by force.
1925 S. O'Casey Shadow of Gunman I. in Three Plays (1980) 88 What are we going to do with these notices to quit?
2001 A. Gurnah By the Sea (2002) vi. 213 The house..was gazetted as the property of the bank, and the tenants I had installed in it were given notice to quit.
c. intransitive. Chiefly U.S. To go away, leave. Now rare. †quit you (Scottish): go away, get out of the way (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
atwendOE
awayOE
to wend awayOE
awendOE
gangOE
rimeOE
flitc1175
to fare forthc1200
depart?c1225
part?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
biwitec1300
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to draw awayc1330
passc1330
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
voidc1374
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
waive1390
to pass out ofa1398
avoida1400
to pass awaya1400
to turn awaya1400
slakec1400
wagc1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
muck1429
packc1450
recede1450
roomc1450
to show (a person) the feetc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
devoidc1485
rebatea1500
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
to go one's ways1530
retire?1543
avaunt1549
to make out1558
trudge1562
vade?1570
fly1581
leave1593
wag1594
to get off1595
to go off1600
to put off1600
shog1600
troop1600
to forsake patch1602
exit1607
hence1614
to give offa1616
to take off1657
to move off1692
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
sheera1704
to go about one's business1749
mizzle1772
to move out1792
transit1797–1803
stump it1803
to run away1809
quit1811
to clear off1816
to clear out1816
nash1819
fuff1822
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
mosey1829
slope1830
to tail out1830
to walk one's chalks1835
to take away1838
shove1844
trot1847
fade1848
evacuate1849
shag1851
to get up and get1854
to pull out1855
to cut (the) cable(s)1859
to light out1859
to pick up1872
to sling one's Daniel or hook1873
to sling (also take) one's hook1874
smoke1893
screw1896
shoot1897
voetsak1897
to tootle off1902
to ship out1908
to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909
to push off1918
to bugger off1922
biff1923
to fuck off1929
to hit, split or take the breeze1931
to jack off1931
to piss offa1935
to do a mick1937
to take a walk1937
to head off1941
to take a hike1944
moulder1945
to chuff off1947
to get lost1947
to shoot through1947
skidoo1949
to sod off1950
peel1951
bug1952
split1954
poop1961
mugger1962
frig1965
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)]
to come awayeOE
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
awayOE
dealc1000
goOE
awendOE
rimeOE
to go one's wayOE
flitc1175
depart?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
to turn awaya1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
recede1450
roomc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
avaunt1549
trudge1562
vade?1570
discoast1571
leave1593
wag1594
to go off1600
troop1600
hence1614
to set on one's foota1616
to pull up one's stumps1647
quit1811
to clear out1816
slope1830
to walk one's chalks1835
shove1844
to roll out1850
to pull out1855
to light out1859
to take a run-out powder1909
to push off (also along)1923
1811 W. Aiton Gen. View Agric. Ayr Gloss. 690 Kit ye, get out of the way.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Keit you, get away, Aberd.
1833 Md. Hist. Mag. 13 370 If I could have got my trunk I would quit for good.
1883 R. L. Stevenson Silverado Squatters 146 He rose at once, and said..he reckoned he would quit.
1977 I. Shaw Beggarman, Thief i. v. 59 ‘Has it ever occurred to you to just pull out?’ ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I mean quit... Just pick up and leave.’
†12. transitive. To take or send away (a person or thing); to remove; to dismiss. Also with indirect object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > send away or dismiss
congeec1330
turnc1330
putc1350
dismitc1384
refusea1387
repel?a1439
avyec1440
avoida1464
depart1484
license1484
to give (a person) his (also her, etc.) leave?a1513
demit1529
dispatcha1533
senda1533
to send a grazing1533
demise1541
dimiss1543
abandon1548
dimit1548
discharge1548
dismiss1548
to turn off1564
aband1574
quit1575
hencea1586
cashier1592
to turn away1602
disband1604
amand1611
absquatulize1829
chassé1847
to send to the pack1912
1575 G. Turberville tr. F. S. Vicentino Treat. Cure Spanels in Bk. Faulconrie 364 This medicine..cureth and quitteth the Mangie.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iv. 116 Having, quited and depriued them the preheminence..to elect Captaines.
a1625 J. Fletcher Womans Prize v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) 120/2 You shall receive a wife to quit your sorrow.
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts ii. iii. sig. F I'le quit you From my imployments.
1649 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 45 The small intelligence come to us..would have quitted you this trouble.
1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) I. 361 Miss Arabella..took it out again, without quitting her hand from it.
1848 G. F. Ruxton Life in Far West in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 718/1 One of you quit this arrow out of my hump.
13.
a. transitive. To leave, resign, or withdraw from (a job, occupation, institution, etc.).In early use not completely distinct from sense 10a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > abandon or relinquish (an activity or occupation)
remit1587
to give up1589
quit1607
to give off1613
to get out of ——1632
ding1852
to jack up1880
jack1902
to throw in1951
toss in1956
1607 F. Beaumont Woman Hater iv. ii. sig. G2v Were't not for my smooth, soft, silken Citizen, I would quit this transitorie trade,..and turne Serieant.
1656 A. Cowley Davideis iv. 122 in Poems The manner of Samuels quitting his office of Judge.
1680 J. Dryden in J. Dryden et al. tr. Ovid Epist. Pref. He was design'd to the Study of the Law; and had made considerable progress in it, before he quitted that Profession, for this of Poetry.
1772 J. Beekman Let. 18 Jan. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) II. 824 I shall for the present quit this Trade.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto II xxxvii. 137 Nothing should tempt him more (this peril past) To quit his academic occupation.
1854 J. R. Orton Arnold ii. vi. 36 Is this, then, your deliberate intention, To quit the service, and retire?
1914 S. Leacock Arcadian Adventures ii. 60 Fred quit school and ate chocolates.
2003 Eastern Eye 3 Oct. 19/3 The ARD..protests..parliament, demanding that Musharaff, who is president and chief of army, quit one of the two posts.
b. intransitive. Now chiefly North American. To cease to engage in an action or activity; (also) to give up one's employment, leave a job. Also (U.S.) with off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)]
aswikec975
linOE
beleavec1175
forletc1175
i-swikec1175
restc1175
stutte?c1225
lina1300
blinc1314
to give overc1325
to do wayc1350
stintc1366
finisha1375
leavea1375
yleavec1380
to leave offa1382
refuse1389
ceasec1410
resigna1413
respite?a1439
relinquish1454
surcease1464
discontinue1474
unfill1486
supersede1499
desist1509
to have ado?1515
stop1525
to lay aside1530
stay1538
quata1614
to lay away1628
sist1635
quita1642
to throw up1645
to lay by1709
to come off1715
unbuckle1736
peter1753
to knock off1767
stash1794
estop1796
stow1806
cheese1811
to chuck itc1879
douse1887
nark1889
to stop off1891
stay1894
sling1902
can1906
to lay off1908
to pack in1934
to pack up1934
to turn in1938
to break down1941
to tie a can to (or on)1942
to jack in1948
to wrap it up1949
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > quit or give up
to give offa1616
quita1642
to tie up1760
that'll be the day1916
to turn in1918
to go through1933
to walk away1950
a1642 J. Suckling Poems i. 14 in Fragmenta Aurea (1646) Quit! quit for shame! this will not move.
1752 H. Walpole Let. 11 Dec. in Lett. to H. Mann (1833) III. 25 It is I, that will not act with such fellows..if they are kept, I will quit; and if the Bishop is dismissed, I will quit too.
1773 P. V. Fithian Jrnl. 27 Nov. in Jrnl. & Lett. 1773–4 (1965) 25 I was introduced to one Mr Walker..lately a School-master but has quit.
1807 Deb. Congr. U.S. (1852) 10th Congress 1 Sess., App. 478 [Robert A. New] inquired of them whether they would stand by Colonel Burr and go on, or quit.
1843 Spirit of Times 4 Mar. 1/2 When a thing isn't ‘worth a fig’, one ‘might as well call it half a day and quit’.
1861 S. Lit. Messenger 32 51 So they gist quit off old fashioned work.
1894 Chicago Advance 1 Mar. I don't see how you ever made up your mind to quit off [from study].
1932 Atlantic Monthly Mar. 316/2 The..farmer..let the place run down to almost a raw land value before he quit.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 3 Feb. b4/1 It's fine by me; I quit a couple of years ago.
1977 News of the World 17 Apr. 2/3 He has already quit as chairman of the firm.
1999 M. Connelly Angels Flight (2001) 31 Bosch studied Garwood's cigarette-yellowed teeth and for a moment was glad he was trying to quit.
c. transitive. Now chiefly North American colloquial. To desist from engaging in (an action or activity); to stop, give up. Chiefly with gerund or verbal noun.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > discontinue
solvec1450
to let pass1530
stay1538
to leave down1548
quita1681
a1681 D. Cargill in P. Walker Passages Life D. Cargill (1732) 35 Where my Heart is not affected, and comes not up with my Mouth, I always thought it Time for me to quit it.
1754 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 166 Persons who rent seats..after they quitt sitting in them [etc.].
1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. iii. iv. 76 But do you know how it will behove you to conduct yourself, if you take this office upon you... You must quit whoring.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville II. 165 They followed on his trail, nor quit hovering about him..until [etc.].
1880 W. H. Patterson Gloss. Words Antrim & Down 81 Quut, quet, quit. ‘Quut yer cloddin',’ i.e. stop throwing stones.
1892 A. C. Gunter Miss Dividends ii. xiv. 208 Quit calling him bishop.
1910 C. C. Russell People & Lang. 23 Ate yer mate an' ye'll nivir be bate, but quet yer mate an' yer done for.
1931 T. H. Rynning Gun Notches xviii. 130 The Judge opened court with the usual formalities, throwing out a couple of drunks who wouldn't quit snoring during the proceedings.
1957 J. Agee Death in Family xvi. 277 ‘Quit it!’ Catherine yelled, and all of a sudden she was crying.
1995 GQ Jan. 134/1 If you resolved to quit smoking and then had one with coffee while relaxing after a superb dinner, don't beat yourself up over it.
2004 Belfast Tel. (Nexis) 25 Mar. It ranked alongside face like a Lurgan spade, catch yourself on, quet your slabberin', c'mere till I tell ye and I'll knock your bake/pan in as most grating.
d. intransitive. Originally and chiefly North American. Of a mechanism: to stop working.
ΚΠ
1903 Atlanta Constit. 17 Aug. 7/2 Nelson was leading at 10 miles by three laps when his motor quit.
1926 Zanesville (Ohio) Signal 13 Sept. 1/2 The officers were in sight of the alleged robbers..when the police car quit cold.
1966 D. S. Halacy Shipbuilders ii. 50 Then the engine quit suddenly and the male passengers began to curse their luck.
2006 Daily Mail (Nexis) 3 Mar. 32 Water and exhaust gauges looked normal but when the engine quit, the pilot was forced to land.
e. intransitive. U.S. colloquial. that won't quit and variants: first-rate; supremely good, effective, attractive, etc.In recent use esp. of physical attributes.
ΚΠ
1944 Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) 29 Jan. 7 (advt.) Here's one that won't quit... 40 acres, 7-room modern brick home.
1952 W. S. Burroughs Let. Apr. (1993) 114 My God she is an American bitch that won't quit. I never yet see her equal.
1974 R. Greenfield S.T.P.: Jour. through Amer. with Rolling Stones (2002) 256 She's high-fashion beautiful, with high cheekbones that don't quit.
1985 Los Angeles Times 25 Mar. (Electronic text) He's got a personality that won't quit. He makes me laugh.
2004 N.Y. Mag. 6 Dec. 10/1 I quickly referenced the cover credits, inside, to see the name of the male model with the arms that just won't quit!
†14. intransitive. Chiefly Scottish. To part with a person or thing. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.).
ΚΠ
1635 J. Shirley Traytor i. i If You can find dispensation to quit with Amidea,..be confident Oriana may be won.
a1668 J. Renwick Choice Coll. Serm. (1776) 394 Some with one idol, and some with another, which they will not quit with.
1690 Cramond Kirk Session III. 18 Sept. And try if they would quytt with any relation they had to the said Mr. John Hamilton.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality viii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 206 Ye hae preached twenty punds out o' the laird's pocket that he likes as ill to quit wi'.
15. Computing.
a. intransitive. Of a computer program, subroutine, etc.: to stop running; to terminate.
ΚΠ
1964 Traffic Assignment Man. (U.S. Bureau Public Roads) a 49 The program quits after trying to write and returns to the bell system.
1980 Hewlett-Packard Jrnl. Jan. 21/1 If a program statement sends the tablet an unrecognized command or illegal parameter, it will not cause the program to quit.
1998 A. Freeman & D. Ince in D. Deugo Java Gems 167 When the string has been printed out, the application will quit.
2013 P. Rosenzweig Cyber Warfare vii. 89 When bots reported to the control servers for instructions..the ISC servers would reply with commands telling the bot program to quit.
b. intransitive. To cause a computer program, application, etc., to terminate. Cf. exit v.2 3. Also transitive.
ΚΠ
1972 S. Winkler Computer Communications 160/2 Type ‘done’ to quit.
1974 Proc. Symp. Computer Networks 24/1 When the user signals his intention to quit the tutorial, REX automatically terminates the connection.
1986 InfoWorld 18 Aug. 66/4 Many programs ask us if we really want to quit without saving our data.
1996 PC Mag. 11 June 276/2 It is vital that you close the device before quitting.
2003 D. Goodman JavaScript & DHTML Cookbk. x. 265 The cookie remains in place only until the user quits the browser.
2012 V. Frankel Four of a Kind 152 ‘What are you doing?’ boomed Carla at her sons. ‘Nothing!’ said Manny while fumbling on the keyboard to quit the application.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.11847n.21863adj.?c1225v.?c1225
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